Mail-bag catcher and deliverer.



J. H. KNIGHT. l MAIL BAG GATGHER AND DELIVBRER.

A'PILIOATION FILED BEPT.19, 1908.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

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J. H. KNIGHT.

MAIL BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERER.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1908.

1909,61 1 Patented Jan. 1.2, 1909.

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.lOl-IN H. KNIGHT, OF WINSTON SLEM, NORTH CAROLINA.

MAIL-BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

Application filed September 19, 1908. Serial No. 453,763.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at illinston Salem, in the county of Forsyth and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers and Deliverers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail bag catchers and deliverers, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and reliable apparatus of novel construction for delivering a mail bag at a station and at the same time catching or picking up another bag, the apparatus being of such nature as to insure the proper delivery and picking up of bags without injuring or mutilating the same.

Vith the above general obj ect in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

Tn the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the catching and delivering apparatus complete and the relation of the same to a car. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection through the same, showing the parts of the apparatus in their operative relation. Fig. 4 is a simliar view showing the catcher and deliverer' swung back into the car door opening. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section illustrating the operation of the apparatus.

A t each station there is arranged a platform or stand embodying suitable support.- ing legs 1, cross sills 2 supported thereby and slats or rails 3 secured upon the cross sills 2 and arranged at suitable distance apart and parallel to each other to leave parallel ways or channels 4, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The opposite ends of the slats or rails 3 may be beveled or pointed as indicated at 5 to form flaring entrance throats to the ways or channels 4. rThe stand or platform also comprises a trip G which is shown in the form of a laterally projecting stud the outer end of which is supported by means of a brace or bracket 7 secured to the platform.

The catcher and deliverer consists of a frame embodying oppositely arranged side pieces 8 connected by a cross-bar 9 which forms a bag stop and also connected by a cross piece 10 which also acts as a bag stop and which extends inward beyond the inner side piece 8 and has its end pivotally mounted at 11 in a base 12 securely fastened to the'floor of the car as indicated in the drawings. The object in so pivoting the frame of the deliverer as a whole is to enable the same to be set either in a substantially horizontal position to project outward from the plane of the car side as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or to be folded upward and inward within the car door opening as shown in Fig. 4. In order to hold the frame in either position referred to, a latch lever 13 is mounted on the bar 10 and the point of said lever is adapted to engage with a shoulder' 14 on the base 12 for holding the catcher folded as shown in Fig. 4, or with another shoulder 15 on the base for retaining the catcher securely in its operative position as shown in Fig. 3, the latch 13 being thrown into engagement with either one of said shoulders by means of a spring 16.

Projecting in the opposite directions from the main supporting bar 10 is a plurality of bag engaging fingers 17 having their upper sides concaved as shown at 18 and their ends pointed as at 19. These fingers extend parallel to the length of the car and parallel to each other and are spaced apart at the proper distances to cause them to traverse the ways or channels 4 between the slats or rails 3, as the car passes a station, the fingers 17 traveling beneath the plane of the top edges of the slats 3 as shown in Fig. 5.

Mounted on the catcher and deliverer is a curved guard 20 adapted to partially close in one end of the catcher frame, the said guard being provided at opposite sides with arms 21 which are pivotally7 mounted at 22 on the side pieces S. One of the arms 2l is provided with a fork 23 having the opposite blades or prongs thereof beveled on their inner sides and pointed as shown at 24`to provide a wide flaring entrance throat into which the trip stud 6 above described passes asv the catcher travels over the platform.

In the use of the apparatus, a mail bag is placed by the operator on the car in the rear compartment of the catcher, and this may be done while the catcher is in its folding position shown in Fig. 4, the catcher being then swung outward to its horizontal or operative position and held by the latch 13, the guard 2O partially covering said rear compartment and preventing the mail bag from escaping therefrom before reaching the station. rThe mail bag to be received is placed across the slats 3 as shown in Fig. 3. When the fork 24 strikes the trip the Lguard 20 ,is re-k versed or swung over the top of the catcher to the opposite side, and thisoccms :just after the bag on the platform has been caught by the 4adjacent .finger-s Alf?. As the .catcher moves on, the bag is thus dragged Voff the platform by the advance fingers and the other bag is released by the rear fingers and left lupon the platform.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new -isz 1. Mail bag catching and deliveringapparatus embodying a ystationary platform, `and a .car supported element comprising vpick u and delivery -ingers,-and a reversible guardi 2. Mail bag catching land deliveringapparatus embodying a stationary platform, and a kcar supported element comprising pick up and delivery-fingers, a shi-ftable guard, and means for shifting theguard Aas the carsupported element passes the platform.

3. Mail bag catching-and delivering apparatus embodying a stationary platform, -a trip thereon, and -a car supported element comprising pick up .and delivery fingers, la

pivoted guard mounted thereon, and a gua-rd shift-ing fork adapted to be acted upon by the trip on `the platform, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. Mail bag catchingand delivering apparatus embodying a stationary platform, provided witliva ztrip, and a car 4supported element embodyin fore and aft compartments, .a f*guard shiftab e Vfrom one compartment to the other and means connected with said guard'andfarlaptedttgo coperate with the trip onthe platform for moving the guard from one:compartment to the other.

5. Mail bag catching and delivering appa-- ratus embodying -a stationary platform, and a car supported element comprising `pick up and delivery ingers,ashiftableguard,means for `shifting said guard as it .passes around the platform, vand means 4for folding thecar supported-element-out yof the way, substantiall-yas described.

6. Mail bagfcatchingzand deliveringfapparatus embodying a stationary platform, vund a car supported element comprising 4pickup and deli-very fingers, a guard shiftable'from one set o f fingers to the other, and means for automatically fshiftingsaid .guard as it passes along 'the platform, means whereby the said element is pivotally mounted on the car so as to project outward therefrom and 'to be swung inward through the door opening, and means for rocking said element in its operative position. Y

In testimony whereof I aix my Vsignature in ypresence of two witnesses.

`JOHN H. KNIGHT.

Witnesses:

.J.-C. BnssEN'r, H. A. SHEELER. 

